Posted on 11/19/2001 11:54:59 AM PST by Stand Watch Listen
But `evil and wicked' quote doesn't cancel Christian love, he says
While saying he is called to love people regardless of their faith, evangelist Franklin Graham on Sunday wouldn't back away from his recent statement on a national news program that Islam "is a very evil and wicked religion."
In a prepared statement released to The Observer through a spokesman, Graham said his Samaritan's Purse ministry in Boone will continue providing millions of dollars in aid to Muslims in need around the world. But he did not take back the controversial comments aired Friday night on "NBC Nightly News" and repeated on cable stations.
Those pieces were based on an interview Graham gave last month near Wilkesboro, at the dedication of a chapel in his parents' name, when he said: "We're not attacking Islam but Islam has attacked us. The God of Islam is not the same God. He's not the son of God of the Christian or Judeo-Christian faith. It's a different God and I believe it is a very evil and wicked religion."
In his prepared statement Sunday, Graham said: "It is not my calling to analyze Islam or any other religions, though I recognize that all religions have differences. In the past, I have expressed my concerns about the teachings of Islam regarding the treatment of women and the killing of non-Muslims or infidels."
Graham, 49, does not plan to comment publicly on the issue, and only will release Sunday's statement in response to questions.
His response comes a day after his ministry's Operation Christmas Child began processing 1 million shoe boxes in Charlotte for needy children overseas - including thousands destined for largely Muslim nations.
His comments were challenged by former Charlottean Ali Akber, who helped organize a meeting between local Jews and Muslims after Sept. 11, before he relocated to Maryland.
"That's spreading hatred," said Akber. "It is the same God. We just don't worship the same way. We all believe in God and charity and worshipping and not doing any evil."
Franklin Graham's views run counter to those expressed on Sept. 17 by President Bush, who called Islam "a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around the world."
It also stands in contrast to the message delivered by Graham's father at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance service at the National Cathedral in Washington, on Sept. 14. "We come together today to affirm our conviction that God cares for us, whatever our ethnic, religious or political background may be," Billy Graham preached. "The Bible says that he is `the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles.'"
From what I remember, they put people to death for opposing the church. I somehow doubt that was a rogue element working within the church.
While Catholic, Protestant and Jewish faiths have become more and more tolerant and ecumenical with time, Islam has, if anything become more exclusive, more intolerant, and more aggressive. Nor was Islam EVER a pacificistic faith. The actions of Christian martyrs in the Colosseum would have been totally unfathomable to the followers of the Mad Prophet.
Our political leaders, ESPECIALLY that wimp Colin Powell should stop putting their heads in the sand. Islam is a violent, dangerous faith which seeks to convert all other religious practitioners by the sword or any other method, like it or not. It most definitely is not a "peaceful" religion. Ask the Copts, ask the Bahai's, ask the Zoroastrians, ask the Sudanese or Nigerian Christians, ask the Philippine Christians, ask the Hindus and Sikhs. They have all experienced the "peace" of Islam - first hand.
Your above statement is true. Followers of a religion often do NOT reflect its actual teachings. They are often hypocrites. But that should not disqualify the teachings of the religion's founder.
However that is probably not the reason why Graham labels Islam as being an evil religion. You must look at its actual teachings. Nowhere did Christ say that we must kill people who do not believe in Him. He said just the opposite: we must love our enemies. However, Islam teaches that they are supposed to kill infidels (Christians and Jews). That is an evil religious teaching, and makes it an evil religion.
Just how old a Pappy are you ? :=)
The way you end that association is to change the face of the religion. The Christians did that. The Muslims seem reluctant to do so, even in the 21st century.
Wonderful! I'm glad Franklin Graham didn't back away from his comments. Yes indeed, Islam is an evil and wicked religion.
What evidence do you have that it's the same God? Because they say so? I find it insulting for them even to call such a being, who's profit rapes an eight year old, god.
Which means of course that he'll have to be marginalized if not totally discredited.
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